>
>I think that if you read the bible and take it only at face
>value then you miss a lot of what is meant. You have to read
>it very carefully and be careful to take it in context
>because you can take a single passage and often interpret it
>to mean anything you want. The bible points out that Jesus
>preformed the first miracle because his mother asked him to.
>Even though he was reluctant his mother persuaded him. Now
>we could have been just told of the miracle and it could
>have been left at that, but we were told that his mother
>Mary, came and asked for his help and because of her he
>preformed the miracle. Now I don't think that they told us
>Mary was the one that persuaded him for no reason. And
>isn't one of the commandments to honor thy mother and thy
>father. Granted God could be above his own law, but that
>doesn't seem very characteristic of Jesus to me. Also refer
>to a previous post that explaind what was meant by the words
>of the angle that apeared to Mary. Just MY opinions here, I
>am by no means a scholar on the subject.


I went back and read the account of Jesus turning the water into wine at the wedding (John 2:1-11) and have included it below:

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied. "My time has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, "Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him. John 2:1-11


If you will notice, Mary did not ask Jesus to turn the water into wine. In fact, since this was Jesus' very first miracle (as so stated in the text), there is no way Mary could have known He could even do it. She was however, turning to Jesus in hope that He could solve the problem.......much like any mother would do with their son. So, the fact that Mary came to Jesus, her son, with a problem is no more extraodinary than any other mother coming to her son for help. The real reason for Jesus performing His first miracle (and really, the reason he performed all of His miracles) is explained in the last verse of the section......to reveal His glory so that his disciples and others would place their faith in Him.

 

<snip>
>If you will notice, Mary did not ask Jesus to turn the water
>into wine. In fact, since this was Jesus' very first
>miracle (as so stated in the text), there is no way Mary
>could have known He could even do it.

Wait a minute. She has the angel of the lord appear to her and tell her she is blessed among women and that she is chosen by God to mother his son, Concieves without knowing man, Endures the virgin birth, receives the visit from the magi, finds him in the temple teaching as a child, and still doesn't know he can do miracles? That doesn't seem right.



> She was however,
>turning to Jesus in hope that He could solve the
>problem.......much like any mother would do with their son.
>So, the fact that Mary came to Jesus, her son, with a
>problem is no more extraodinary than any other mother coming
>to her son for help. The real reason for Jesus performing
>His first miracle (and really, the reason he performed all
>of His miracles) is explained in the last verse of the
>section......to reveal His glory so that his disciples and
>others would place their faith in Him.

That may be the true reason he did it but something is still lost in the translation here. She tells him they are out of wine. He replies 'Dear woman, why do you involve me? My time has not yet come.'
This sounds like insider conversation. Like 'you know what I can do but it's not time yet.' When Mary told him that they were out of wine was she asking him to go out an procure more or was she asking him for some divine intervention? I don't think there's enough information in this translation to tell for sure.

As far as why do Catholics honor her:
1. As was Jesus, her coming was fortold by prophecies in the old testament.
2. She was the product of immaculate conception and born without sin.
3. She was CHOSEN by God as the perfect and pure path for him to enter the world as his son Jesus (this in and of itself should be enough)

 

You can interpret it however you want... I agree with 76's answer and I will continue to interpret it how I believe it should be. But since we have had so many questions on catholics I have a few of my own on other religions. Why is it that some belive that it is wrong to drink alchohol, dance, it is ok NOT to go to church on the sabbath if it is inconvineint and why do you not honor Marry, the angle sent by God sure seemed to have a lot of respect for her? these are not pointed at anyone specific, just a few things nobody has ever answered for me on other religions.

 

religion, god, church....there is all of the above, but we should not have our beliefs of the above three preached to us. if we are true believers in our own way, then the big guy will know who the true believers are...need not worry, you will not be left behind,but if you are you will have a second chance. Dan/FT

 

>As far as why do Catholics honor her:
>1. As was Jesus, her coming was fortold by prophecies in the
>old testament.
>2. She was the product of immaculate conception and born
>without sin.
>3. She was CHOSEN by God as the perfect and pure path for
>him to enter the world as his son Jesus (this in and of
>itself should be enough)


Would you be so kind as to list some passages from God's word to support each of your three reasons? I want to know all I can about God's word and if what you are saying is true, then I have somehow missed it along the way.

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." 1 Peter 3:15

If what you say is in God's word, then I need to know it and be prepared to share with anyone who asks me....as God's word tells me to do. Thanks!

 

>>As far as why do Catholics honor her:
>>1. As was Jesus, her coming was fortold by prophecies in the
>>old testament.
>>2. She was the product of immaculate conception and born
>>without sin.
>>3. She was CHOSEN by God as the perfect and pure path for
>>him to enter the world as his son Jesus (this in and of
>>itself should be enough)
>
>
>Would you be so kind as to list some passages from God's
>word to support each of your three reasons?
<snip>

1. Genesis 3:15
2. Luke 1:28
3. Luke 1:35

For more infor consult:

http://www.cin.org/users/james/files/key2mary.htm
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07674d.htm